Automatic hay baler



Jume- 3,1924

P. BONNAFOUX AUTOMATIC HAY BALER Filed June 11'. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 une 3,1924., mgm@ P. BONNAFOUX AUTOMATIC HM. BALER Filed June 11. 1921 S sheets-'sheet 2 me' Wx n.47,

.mme 1924..

P. BONNFOUX AUTOMATIC HAY BALER Filed June 1l. 192i 5 Sheets-Sheet 5` June 3, i924., y j

P'. BONNAFQUX .AUTOMATI HAY BALER i921 5 Sheets-Shea?l 4 Filed June 1.1.

ooo o o o o o Patented June 3, f -uNiTED STATES PAUL BONN'AFOUX, 0F LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA.

Y To' all whom t may concern.: l

- "hay may be gathered from the groun Be it known't'hat I, PAUnBoNNAFoUx, a

citizen of the United- States, residing at Lancaster, -in the county of Los Angeles and State -of California, have invented a new and useful Automatic Hay Baler, of which the followin is a s ecification.

This invention as re ation to an improved hay-baler, and its objects are to provide an improved construction wherel7 the and compressed into bales as the machinev advances along the ground.V

Other objects are to -provide improved compressor elements and a knife to 'out the compressed hay into bales.-

Attainment o f the objects of the invention iseffected by lconstructing an improved compressing chamber, and by simplif ing the gearing which transmits the power rom the motorto the compressing elements.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmen-v tary and top plan view of my improved haybaler, which shows portions of the gear case in section. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation'of the device Fig, 3 is a sectional and detail view 4 of the baling chamber and the differential transmission elements. Fig. 4 is a transverse View of the forward end of the baling chamber. Fig. 5is a sectional detail view of arotary compressor. Fi 6 is a detail plan view of the cam whic operates the compressor fingers to operative and inoperative positions. Fig.- 7 is a detail view of a compressor fingerprovided with a roller to engage with the operatin cam. Fig. 8 is a side view -of the cam w ich operates the rake teeth to operativeposition. `F'ig. 9 is afragmentary and perspective view of a rake tooth bar. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary and longitudinal sectional viewof the baling chamber. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary and detail view of the knife operating mechanism.

Fig. 12 isa top plan view of the device with the central portion of the compres/sing chainy bei* broken away. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary and detail lview of the steering sha Assuming the invention to vbe embodiedas illustrated, the main balingfchamber 21,

has sides -converging forwardly to compress the hay, 'and is formedbv sills 22, upper frame members`23, and' side plates 24 and 25. -Top plat'e'26 at the rear, and top .plate 27 at'theforward end, are secured to members 23. The main axle 28'is journalled in' bearing members 29,'secured to frame mem- PATENToFFicE.

Application mea runen, 192i. serial iro. 476,900.

.relative to the main axle28.

'auxiliary frame mem `cured thereto, the cleaners 56, adapted to bers 22, and further rovided with roller guides 30. 'A rotary eeder 31 is mounted 'l on axle 28, and consists of end members 32,

having slotted spokes 33 having radial slots 34, in which slide the blocks 35, fixed to tooth-bars 36. The tooth-bars therefore,

. slide in and out relative to the main axle,

but do not rotate. Tooth-bars 36 are provided with spring rake teeth 37, and with rollers 38 in engagement with roller guides 30,so that as the spider elements 32 are ro- Y tated, the tooth-bars will slide in and out The auxiliary frame members 39, pivotall connected to the main axle, have journa led therein the auxiliary feeder Shaft 40 and the end'plate 41 and spider 42, fixed to shaft 40. A countershaft 43 is journalled in bearings 44, on the left auxiliary frame member. tion from the main shaft to the vcountershaft 43, and gearmembers 46, from the countershaft to auxiliary shaft 40. .An eccentric bearing 47 is formed integral with the right auxiliary framemember, and a collary 48 '75 Gear members '45 transmit morotates thereon. Teeth 49, are mounted on barsA 50, provided with lever-arms 51, coiinected by links 52, with collar 48. wheels 53, support frame members 39. The

'frame members 39 are maintained in alignment ,by guides 54, on frame members22.

A tiltable frame 55 is lpivotally muililted .on

ers 39, an as sestrip the hay from both rake feeders and to guide the hay over the annular cleaners 57, encircling the-main feeder, and connected to the bottom chamber late 58. The arrangement is such that t e feeders rotate in c ontrary directions, andthe eccentric. bearing 47, actuates the rake teeth 49. to. inoperative position, so that they are withdrawn in apractically horizontal plane as -theypass fromvbetween the strippers. The

Castor 'v master-wheels 59, through ratchet pawls 60-1 'and ratchet wheels 61, serve to` rotate the main shaft when the machine is advancin L and thus operate taneously.

Bearing members62 and 63, have jourboth rotary feeders simu nalled therein the compressor shafts 64, provided with bevel-gears 65, vdrivn by bevelpinions 66, on countershaftf 67, journalled 1n casing 68.I Shafts64 have fixed spiders 69, in which are journalled the finger shaftsv 70, on which are mounted compressor fingers 71 and 72. Fingers 72 have lugs 73, in which are journalled the rollers 74, which engage with cams 75, integral with bearbers 77, above the baling chamber, through clutch 78, drives the worm 79, in mesh with the differential member 80, mounted in casing 81, and driving the dierential shafts 82, provided with sprocket pinions 83, connected by chains 84, with sprockets 85, on the master-wheels. Chains 84 pass over idler rollers 86, and therefore, the differential shafts and casing 81, are relatively fixed in position. A

A knife 87A operates transversely through the compressing chamber, and is provided at the top and bottom with rack members 88, which bear against the rollers 89. These rack members are driven by spur pinions 90, on shaft 91. Clutch pinions 92 and 93, are loosely mounted to rotate independently on clutch shaft 94, and are driven by pinion 95,

on a shaft 96. Clutch members 97 may be thrown into engagement with clutch pinions 92 and 93. A lever 98 may be manually operated to shift the clutch members 97, said lever being loosely connected to the clutch fork member 99, slidingly mounted in the casing, and-having clutch forks 100 in engagement with members 97. yllhe free arm 101, of lever 98, rests upon the upper knife rack member, which is provided with lugs 102. rlhe lower knife rack is provided with rollers 103, which permit the knife and the rack members to be operated easily. As the knife approaches the limit of its stroke in either direction, the clutch lever 98 is shifted to inoperative position-by one of the lugs 102, and in either inoperative position, abuts against a lug on the knife rack member, which prevents manipulation of the lever to a wrong position by the operator. The projections 104, on the knife, are provided with holes 105, and as the knife cuts the compressed hay into suitable lengths for bales, binding Wires, such as are now in use and provided with a looped end, having been previously inserted in the holes 105, are drawn through the channels cut in contiguous ends of the bales by the projections 104. The tying operation may be completed by the operators as the bale advances along the constricted portion of the hailing chamber.

` For eonstricting the forward end of the bal- I ing chamber, I provide threaded bars 106,

extending from the bottom to the top of the rovide a. crank 107 to be manipulated by the operator, the crank having Worm pinions 108 in engagement with ears 109, on the threaded bars-106, where y through mani ulation of the `crank lQt'tbeehambr may e farther sonstwie@ to compress the bale after the tying operation. The inclined chute 110, receives the bales and deposits them on the ground and out of the path of the rotary feeders.

The steering means comprise a shaft 111, `iournalled in the top plate 26 and in the standard 112, and having a Worm threaded portion 113, and a flange 114. A traveling nut 115 is in engagement with .the threaded portion 113, and a steering Wheel 116, is provided for rotatingr the shaft. A lever 117, is mounted to rotate independently on the steering shaft 111, and is provided with spirally arranged slots 118, and the arms 119, working between rolleis 120, engage with spiral slots 118. The longitudinal m0- tion of the traveling nut 115, therefore op- Y erates the lever 117 through its steering arc. The vertically disposed rock-shaft 121 is connected by a drag-link 122, with lever 123,

to member 133, pivotally mounted on shaft 131. A bell-crank lever 134 is mounted on the top plate 20, and links 135 and 136, con nected, respectively, to the bell-crank lever and rock shaft 121, and to the bell-crank lever and steering arm 117, transmit the steering movement to the wheels..

y Referring to the compressing means, I provide shields 137 for the compressing fingers 71'and T2. l have provided the baling chamber with relatively narrow slots 138, for the passage of the compressing fingers, the slots having enlargements 139, for the exit of the fingers from the compressing chamber. kAs the finger rollers 74 become disengaged from the cams 75, the thrust of the fingers is taken by rollers 140, adjacent to the exit slots 139.

The differential gear member 80, is provided with an integral spur-gear wheel 141, in mesh with a similar spur-'gear wheel 142, on jack-shaft 67, which, through pinions 66, and gears 65, drive the compressor shafts. Gear-wheel 142, is'in mesh with a pinion 143, on shaft 96, thereby serving to operate the knife., when the knife clutch lever 98 is shifted to operative position.

From the foregoing it may be seen that l have provided an efiieientA device in .which the function of baling hay is performed continuously as the device advances along the ground to gather up the hay therefrom.

What is claimed is 1. 1n a hay-baler. a frame enclosing a.

in the forward part thereof, rotary feeders to convey Athe hay into the `balingchamber at the rear end thereof, strippers interposed between the feeders, rotary compressors, one on each side` of the baling chamber, compressing fingers on the compressors and adapted to extend into -the baling chamber during a portion of the revolution thereof, means for actuating the rotary compressors, and cam members to force the fingers intov operative position within the baling chamber, the compressor fingers being released as they approach the position during a portion of the revolution constricted` portion of the compressing chamber.

2. In a hay-baler, a frame enclosing abaling chamber which is open at the front and rear ends, and converging at the forward end, rtary compressors adjacent to the baling chamber, means for actuating the compressors, fingers on the compressors, means `for forcing the fingers to operative position during a part of their revolution, said fingers'extending into the-baling chamberv in their operative position, and rollers exteriorly mounted' relative to the compressing chamber, and supporting the fin ers as they are withdrawn from the ba ing chamber.

3. In a hay-baler, a frame enclosing a baling chamber open at the rear andforj ward ends, and converging at the forward end, rotary compressors adjacent to the baling chamber, means for actuating the compressors, fingers on the compressors, a cam for forcing the fingers to operative position during a part of the? revolution thereof, scid fingers extending into the baling chamber during a part of their revolution, and rollers arranged to support the fingers as they are withdrawn from the compressing chamber.

4. In a hay-baler, a frame enclosin the baling chamber open at the rear an 'forward ends, said chamber'conver'ging at 'the vfront end and having a series of longitudinal slots in each side, said slots being enlarged at 'each end tol form entrance and exit ports, rotary compressors adjacent to and exterior to the baling chamber, means for, actuating the rotary compressors, fingers onthe rotary compressors, cams opertive to force the fingers into said slots duri ingv a l part of the revolution of the compressors, said fingers swinging through an 4 arc in the compressing chamber, and rollers adjacent to the forwardports of exit, and

I. supporting the fingers as they are vwithdrawn from the chamber.

5. In a hay-baler, a ,compressing chamber open vat the front and rear ends and converging to form a constricted portion for the greater portion of its length, said chamber having a series of longitudinal slots in its sides, rotary l'compre ssors adjacent to the of the compressors, said fingers extending'- through the slots into the chamber, in operative position, and rollers adjacent to the exit ports to receive the thrust of the fingers as they are released by said cams.

6. In a hay-baler, a compressing chamber open at the' front and rear ends and having a constricted portion for the greater vpart of its length, said chamber having vertical slots at the beginning of its constrieted portion, rotary compressors adjacent to the chamber', fingers on the compressors, cams for actuating the fingers to operative position Within 'the chamber during a part of the revolution of the compressors, a-knife adapted' to move transversely through the chamber and passing through the vertical slots as it approaches the limit of its stroke in either direction,`means for actuating the knife, a clutch to control the `knife-actuating means, a lever to operate the clutch to operative and inoperative positions, and lugs carried by theknife-actuating means to shift the'lever in inoperative position as the knife approaches the limit of its stroke.

7 In a hay-baler, plates forming the top, bottom and sides of a baling chamber, means for feeding hay {intothe rear thereof, means for compressing the hay Within the chamber, a lmifesliding' transversely through the chamber to sever the hay into bales, and havingoppositely disposed cut-- ting edges, said knife being inclinedfrelative to the section of the' compressing chamber, means for operatingthe knife alternately in opposite directions, a clutch to throw the knife-operating means into operative position, and -means for disengaging into the c amber at the rear, rotary comressing elements to force the Ahay to the ront of the chamber, and severing means located in the chamber Vadjacent to the compressing elements. v

10. In a hay-baler, a frame enclosing a baling chamber, lmeansfor feeding the hay into the chamber at the rear, means for compressing the hay Within the chamber, al

knife adapted to move transversely relative to the frame and sever the compressed hay, a clutch to control the knife actuating means, mea-ns for actuating the knife alternately in opposite directions, rack members attached to the knife, rolleis supporting the rack members in engagement With the actuating means, and lugs on the upper rack member to shift the clutch lever to inoperative position as the knife approaches the limit of its stroke.

11. In a hay-baler, a frame enclosing a baling chamber, master-Wheels supporting the frame, a main shaft journalled in the frame, ratchet wheels on the 'main shaft, pawls on the 1naster-Wheels and arranged for rotation of the main shaft upon rotation of the master-Wheels for forward movement, rotary drums integral With the main shaft, and having radial slots, crossheads sliding in said slots in the drums, tooth-bars carried by the sliding crossheads, rake teeth carried by the tooth-bars and adapted to feed the hay into the chamber, rollers mounted to independently rotate on the tooth-bars adjacent to the crossheads, guide members fixed to the frame and engaging with the rollers on the tooth bars to retract the teeth as they pass the chamber, compressing means Within the chamber and operative as the hay is received from the rake teeth, and severing means operative subsequent to the compressing means.

l2. In a hay-baler, a frame enclosing a baling chamber, master-wheels supporting the frame, anauxiliary frame pivotally connected to the main frame, a rotary rake member mounted in the main frame and driven by the master-Wheels, an auxiliary rake member mounted on 'the auxiliary frame, means whereby the auxiliary rake is driven with rotary movement contrary to the rotary movement of the main rake member, rotary compressing members, means for actuating-them in opposite rotary directions, and means for compressing the hay subsef quently by constricting the chamber, and severing means operative subsequent to the rotary compressori 13. In a'hay-baler, the combination with plates forming the top, bottom and sides of a compressing chamber, means for feeding the hay into the rear thereof, and means for compressing the hay Within the chamber, of a knife sliding transversely through the ychamber to sever the hay into bales, said knife having' oppositely disposed cutting edges, and being inclined relative to the section of the baling chamber, rack members fixed to the top and bottom of the knife, a vert-ical shaft mounted on the. exterior of the chamber and adjacent thereto, pinions on the vertical shaft in engagement With the rack members, a horizontally disposed clutch shaft mounted above the baling chamber, a gear and pinion operatively connecting the vertical shaft and t-he clutch shaft, rollers supporting thebottom rack member, rollers mounted on the top of the chamber and bearing against the upper rack member, independently revoluble pinions mounted on the clutch shaft and having integral clutch elements, means for actuating the independently revoluble pinions in opposite directions, clutch members feathered to the clutch shaft, a clutch rod sliding beneath the clutch shaft, forks thereon and in engagement With the sliding clutch members, a bell-crank lever arranged to shift the clutch rod alternately in opposite directions, said lever havrack member, and cams on the upper rack member to shift the lever to inoperative position as the knife approaches the limit of its stroke.

14. In a hay-baler, plates forming the top, bottom and sides of a baling-chamber, means for feeding the hay into the rear thereof, means for compressing the hay Within the chamber, a knife sliding transversely through the chamber to sever the hay into bales, oppositely disposed cutting edges on the knife, said knife being inclined relative to the section of the chamber, projections on opposite sides ofthe knife, having apertures to receive the ends of the baling Wires, means for operating the knife alternately in opposite directions, a clutch mechanism to throw the knife actuating mechanism into operation, and means for disengaging the clutch as the knife approaches the limit of its stroke.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature.

rAUL BoNNAFoUx.

'80 ing its free end extending over the upperv 

